In December 2009, the Center for Science and Environment in Delhi, released a report acknowledging what those living in the shadow of the old Union Carbide pesticide factory already know- their water and soil is highly contaminated. Extreme levels of pesticides and hard metals like mercury and lead are being recorded in the aquifers as far away as 3kms from the plant, leading to the chronic poisoning of thousands of residents living in the bustling neighborhoods around the factory.
It has been 25-years since 40,000 tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) escaped from the factory in Bhopal killing thousands of people, and it has been 25-years that the local residents have been asking for the factory to be cleaned up and decontaminated. Neither the Indian government who own the land, nor DOW Chemical, who now own the factory, have taken on the responsibility and new generations, including families who weren’t in the area during the gas-explosion, are being born with disabilities and chronic ailments directly attributed to the water and soil around them.
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A Legacy of Suffering
Location: Oregon, USA
Nationality: British
Focus:
Photographer, Photojournalist, Documentary, Freelance, Humanitarian
Covering:
Asia,
Latin America,
USA & Canada
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© 2024 Amiran White
"We have no choice but to use the groundwater," says Famidia as she gives her son, Faizan, a bath, "we didn't know when we moved that it was contaminated."
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There are an estimated 120,000- 150,000 chronically ill survivors of the disaster, and thousands more affected by living in the contaminated neighborhoods around the factory. Each year, on the anniversary of the explosion, survivors and activists gather. They march through the city, asking for clean water and proper health care. They hold rallies outside the main gates to the factory, demanding to be acknowledged.
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Leela, 50, who remembers how even the trees went black and lost their leaves the night of the explosion, marches every year on the anniversary of the tragedy. One of her daughters, Renu, 26, has stunted growth and swellings over her body, her son has diabetes and a growing disorder. "I will continue to march until we get justice, until we get some help. Jobs we can do in our conditions, clean water and healthcare."
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© 2024 Amiran White
Om Prakesh, 57, was a policeman near the railway station on the night of the explosion and has now been detailed to guard the old Union Carbide factory where he lives, sleeps and eats for days at a time. "You couldn't walk on the railway platform without stepping on dead bodies," he said of that night, "if I had been working at the factory then, I'd be dead for sure, but now it is OK- the government says its safe."
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© 2024 Amiran White
A report by the Centre for Science and Environment in Delhi (CSE) was released in 2009, stating the chronic toxicity of the region. This echoed a Green Peace report released in 2004. Both state extreme levels of pesticides like lindane, mercury, lead, chromium to name a few, were found both in and around the factory.
"The factory site is leading to chronic toxicity, continuous exposure leading to poisoning of our bodies," said Sunita Narain, director of CSE, "the chemicals are leaching into the groundwater and leading to a slow and deliberate poisoning of the residents."
"The factory site is leading to chronic toxicity, continuous exposure leading to poisoning of our bodies," said Sunita Narain, director of CSE, "the chemicals are leaching into the groundwater and leading to a slow and deliberate poisoning of the residents."
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Radha's son has both epilepsy and cerebral palsy and spends most of his time lying on the roof watching the world, while her husband Hemant, who has kidney failure, lies on his bed in the house. All day long she moves between the two, cooking, cleaning and feeding the family.
"He needs a bath today," she says of her son, "but it takes too long and if the water's too cold, he could have a fit (epilepsy), I can't handle that right now. And Hemant has been vomiting all night long again."
"He needs a bath today," she says of her son, "but it takes too long and if the water's too cold, he could have a fit (epilepsy), I can't handle that right now. And Hemant has been vomiting all night long again."
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"I used to worry about being a good wife, cooking and cleaning, rushing around trying to keep things tidy. But now I know it is more important to be with my children- the rest will survive," said Bhavana, a gas survivor, who's 6-year-old son has cerebral palsy.
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Bhavana miscarried 3 times after Sambhav, who has Cerebral Palsy, and though she was able to have one more child, she has been plagued with many reproductive issues.
Most of the women who were around during the gas explosion have menstrual problems, but the issues with the young women living in the known water-contaminated areas has increased to phenomenal proportions.
Most of the women who were around during the gas explosion have menstrual problems, but the issues with the young women living in the known water-contaminated areas has increased to phenomenal proportions.
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© 2024 Amiran White
Prembai, 70, pours milk down her 40-year-old son, Hemant's throat. The Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre, built specifically for gas victims, say they can only give him 1 or 2 dialysis for his failing livers and then he will need to go to a private hospital, which they cannot afford, and Prembai wonders if it's better for him to have a little dialysis and stop or to have no dialysis at all. "What we saw, what we went through that night was horrific, too much suffering. But now, many years later, and the suffering hasn't stopped."
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After Karan was born, when it became apparent that his growth was abnormal, they went to a doctor at the Bhopal Memorial Hospital & Research Centre mini clinic near their home. "He told us that nothing could be done and we should leave him to the Gods," remembers his mother, Radha.
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"The doctors here (in Bhopal) know very little about Sambhav's condition," said Bhavna, "and there are so many children like him since the tragedy. They all say nothing can be done. But what we need is research. There's been no research done on the children and they are suffering because of it."
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13-year-old Faizan's condition is gradually worsening, a year ago, he was able to sit outside his home and fly a kite. Now he aches when he sits too long and spends most of his time in front of the television, watching any movie that his favourite actor, Salman Kahn is in.
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© 2024 Amiran White
Mavis, 6, is mentally challenged, cannot speak and has curvature of the spine. The Union Carbide factory is just across the road from the family home and Mavis' grandmother remembers the night of the explosion well. "It was like someone was burning chilies, Our eyes and lungs hurt so much. We ran. People were screaming, vomiting, dropping dead around us."
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"I didn't know the water was bad here, I didn't know the history of this area when I got married and moved to be with my husband's family," said Rajni, "now, even our shadow is leaving us."
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Rukhsar is 10-years-old but has the mental capacity of a 4-year-old. The family live next door to the factory and on their doorstep is one of Union Carbide’s Solar Evaporation Ponds (SEPs)- created by the company in order to dump their toxic waste.
Between 1969 and 1984, the factory got rid of its waste in apporximately 22 acres worth of pits, both inside and outside of the factory walls. The waste has since leeched into the soil and contaminated the groundwater. The family drink from the well and Rukhsar's mother, Satari, says she is constantly suffering from headaches, chronic abdominal pains and irregular menstrual cycles. Her second child died after one month. "I curse the day we moved here," said Satari.
Between 1969 and 1984, the factory got rid of its waste in apporximately 22 acres worth of pits, both inside and outside of the factory walls. The waste has since leeched into the soil and contaminated the groundwater. The family drink from the well and Rukhsar's mother, Satari, says she is constantly suffering from headaches, chronic abdominal pains and irregular menstrual cycles. Her second child died after one month. "I curse the day we moved here," said Satari.
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Rajini, 25, was ostracized from her husband’s family after both her children were born with disabilities. Rajni comes from a small village many miles from Bhopal, however, 8-years-ago she married Navneet and as is Indian custom, moved into his parents' house in the water-contaminated colony of Shivshakti Nagar near Union Carbide's solar evaporation ponds. These ponds were the company's dumping ground for all their toxic waste. Rajni's in-laws blame her for their disabled grandchildren and say she has brought bad luck into their family.
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© 2024 Amiran White
The majority of children are not covered for free treatment as they are not considered gas victims and the government does not recognize water-contaminated victims at all.
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At the government-run DIG hospital, medical officer Dr. Malik, says they treat more than 1700 patients in any 24-hour-period. "There are not enough doctors," says child specialist Dr. Pradeep Shasna who works 6-days a week at DIG. "We give medications and refer bigger cases to the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre". The BMHRC was built with funds provided by Union Carbide to give specialist treatment to all gas victims, however, few seem to get the help they need. Hemant, who has kidney failure, was turned away from the emergency room because the doctors were on holiday and a couple of days later he was admitted, but told he needed to bring in his own blood. Six-months-earlier, Mushtaq Ahmed died on the BMHRC waiting room floor because the hospital wouldn’t admit him.
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The Chingari Trust has recently been created by two women who lost the majority of their families to the gas tragedy. The clinic is run on private donations and offers a safe haven for parents to understand more about their children's disabilities and for children to see they are not alone, as well as offering free therapies and medicines. It is open and free to all children of gas-affected parents and those effected by water-contamination.
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There are reportedly 425 tons of hazardous waste- though local advocates allege there is a great deal more- stored and buried in the factory grounds.
"The toxins we have found in the factory are related to the production process of the plant. It is clear that UCIL was dumping the waste- of chemicals and pesticides- in the factory compound over the years it operated the factory. DOW Chemical company, who bought over Union Carbide, must be held responsible. Its own annual report shows that it has taken on the liability of Union Carbide in the case of asbestos exposure in the US. Why is it denying this responsibility in India?" asks Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment about their 2009 report disclosed on the 25th. anniversary of the chemical explosion.
"The toxins we have found in the factory are related to the production process of the plant. It is clear that UCIL was dumping the waste- of chemicals and pesticides- in the factory compound over the years it operated the factory. DOW Chemical company, who bought over Union Carbide, must be held responsible. Its own annual report shows that it has taken on the liability of Union Carbide in the case of asbestos exposure in the US. Why is it denying this responsibility in India?" asks Sunita Narain, director of the Centre for Science and Environment about their 2009 report disclosed on the 25th. anniversary of the chemical explosion.
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